Maurice Féaudierre

Maurice Féaudierre, better known by his pen-name, Serge, was born in Paris on December 14, 1901. He was a French journalist, chronicler, painter and illustrator, whose main interests were circus, variety, and the Gypsies—which were the subjects of his many books, paintings and drawings, magazine articles, and radio shows.

He produced and presented over the years several radio shows, such as Panorama des Variétés, Les Jeux du Cirque, Jeudi au Cirque, Circoradio, etc., and his writings have been published in many newspapers and magazines—Le Crapouillot, Comœdia, Les Nouvelles littéraires among them. As an artist, he was awarded a Grand prix at the Exposition internationale de Paris in 1937. He always illustrated his own books.

He was a well-known figure of the "Tout-Paris" of the theater and entertainment scene during his lifetime. He was the President of the French Académie du Cirque et du Music-Hall. Maurice Féaudierre showed a keen interest in magic, and often said that he had worked as a ventriloquist. His writing and speaking styles were famous for their wonderful flourish—which his recognizable, high-pitched voice made even more spectacular on his radio shows. He died in Paris on October 16, 1992.